Innovative Plumbing Skills Development for Students

Development is ongoing in FE. This is especially true at this time of the year. We reflect on the past academic year to improve. I love designing new innovative content. It meets the levels and needs of everyone who comes through the door. This allows them to fulfill their wishes in the sector they are studying.

I kept this in mind as I looked first at the training material within the practical area. This involves the levels 2&3 of our students. The level 2 training pack was created to help the student gain basic plumbing skills. They can develop these skills as they go. This will better prepare the student for the synoptic end of year practical assessment.

Level 2 training pack

The pack features the following:

• Work diary – To record training that is planned and signed off when completed
• Working safely in BSE – A range of training skills and knowledge information to be completed, with a feedback section for the trainer available to support the student
• Measuring & cutting – A range of materials, surfaces and shapes. Allowing the student to show over a period of time how to prepare for installations
• Copper tube fabrication – An introduction to bending, joining and installation of copper tube
• Plastic pipe fabrication – Plastic waste pipe and plastic pressure pipe, training on jointing and installation techniques
• Low Carbon Steel fabrication – Jointing and bending of LCS tube and installation techniques
• Module end test – An assessment bringing together all of their knowledge and skills gained so far from within the training manual
• Basic electrical safety and wiring – A training module covering basic safety and wiring of component parts used in the plumbing and heating industry
• Heating installations – A range of skills needed to install heating system components and appliances e.g. radiators, pumps, valves and cleaners
• Appliance installations – Dressing and installation training on items like; Kitchen sinks, Wash hand basins, WC suites, Baths, Cold water storage cisterns and hot water cylinders
• Maintenance of plumbing & heating systems – Training on a range of components across the plumbing and heating system e.g. taps, valves and identification. Planned preventative maintenance and commissioning
• Rain water systems – Installation and basic design techniques for rain water systems (domestic)
• Sanitation systems – Installation and basic design techniques for AGD (above ground drainage) systems (domestic)
• Module end test – An assessment bringing together all of their knowledge and skills gained so far from within the training manual
• Every section – Has feedback and space for guidance notes from the trainer for the student to refer to as they move through the pack

Level 3 training pack

The pack features the following:

• Work diary – To record training that is planned and signed off when completed
• Working safely in BSE – A range of training skills and knowledge information to be completed, with a feedback section for the trainer available to support the student
• Quick questions – Questions are asked of the student throughout the pack relating to the section they are working on with feedback and reflection pages for the student to enter their thoughts on the training and the progress made
• Measuring & cutting – A range of materials, surfaces and shapes. Allowing the student to show over a period of time how to prepare for installations and how to think about designing installations
• Copper tube fabrication – An refresher to bending, joining and installation of copper tube
• QR codes – Feature in the pack to support students with video content made by the tutor for various training techniques
• Installation techniques – working from drawings to install systems
• Module end test – An assessment bringing together all of their knowledge and skills gained so far from within the training manual
• Sanitation – Air testing, performance testing, commissioning and fault finding on systems
• Macerators – Installation and planning techniques of waste water macerators for WC’s and sinks. Fault finding on macerators
• Backflow prevention – Backflow prevention devices, fluid risk categories and selecting correct device and the installation of devices according to the Water Regulations
• Cold water disinfection – Planning and preparation of the disinfection of cold water systems according to manufacturers literature and testing procedure once completed
• Backflow prevention – further installation of devices as well as other valve e.g. pressure reducing valves and flow limiting valves
• Unvented hot water – Install and commission an unvented hot water system
• Benchmark certificates – Training and completion of the certificates
• Hot water service, commission and fault finding – Training on how to carry out a service. This is done according to MI’s and legislation. Commissioning procedures and fault finding and rectification on hot water systems
• Shower installation – Installation training on how to install power mixer showers and fault finding and rectification
• Heating and component electrical wiring & planning – A training module covering basic safety and wiring of component parts used in the plumbing and heating industry
• Installation of a sealed heating system – Installation of the pipework and components to an S plan heating system. Maintenance, fault finding and rectification
• Boosted cold water systems – Commissioning, service and fault finding and rectification
• Water regulations training – Training covering a range of topics from the regulations inclusive of questioning and research, along with installation fault finding and rectification
• Approved document G – Training covering a range of topics from the regulations inclusive of questioning and research, along with installation fault finding and rectification
• Heat loss/transfer training – Covering the basics of heat loss/transfer and how to correctly measure the loss/transfer and use the information in the design of systems
• Module end test – An assessment bringing together all of their knowledge and skills gained so far from within the training manual

All of the training pack have been designed to go with the classroom delivery. This is to better prepare the student for the knowledge test. They also prepare the student for the practical tests that they will be completing as part of their course.

Level 3 schemes of learning for the classroom & workshop